I've always loved where I live. Pretty peaceful and safe. The last couple of years though I'm starting to see a lot of changes. There have been a number of unsavory looking characters around. At 2:30 this morning my boyfriend and I were woken from a sound sleep by squealing car tires, and then someone shouting expletives and derogatory phrases, followed by a couple loud bangs which I thought were gun shots at first. We peeped out the front window, and there was a young girl walking down the street. Behind her were 4 young guys. One of them was yelling at her to stop and come back. Apparently, the loud bangs were rocks being thrown from the vehicle that had driven past. The rocks were aimed at the people, but I guess they hit one of the houses or cars parked on the street. I am not sure what happened to the girl, she kept walking. The guys followed her halfway down the street, then they turned around and came back our way. Still being very loud. We were ready to call the cops, when they showed up. They talked to the guys for a few minutes and then sent them on their way. I'm not sure exactly what went on, but what in the world are kids doing out at 2:30 in the morning anyhow?? I say kids, but they were really older teenagers I guess. I used to feel safe walking to the 24 hour grocery store after dark. It's only 5 minutes away, afterall. But recently, I have not been feeling very safe. Call me paranoid, but when my boyfriend is out of town, I absolutely cannot sleep unless I have checked all the closets, behind all the doors, and wedged my cedar chest in between the door and my couch to barricade myself in. I don't even like to sit on the back porch anymore for fear someone will be hiding in the yard and climb up after me (I am on the second floor - I think this fear stems from a psycho ex-boyfriend who climbed up on the porch :rollseyes. I keep police grade pepper spray next to the bed and my 24 inch cast iron skillet on the stove incase anyone decides to come up on the porch and bust the window on the kitchen door and try to get in. I figure I can at least try to whack the sense out of them long enough for the cops to arrive. Maybe I am being a bit silly about all this, but after what happened this morning, I am wondering if I should get some extra locks for the doors, just to be sure. Is it abnormal to be this paranoid?